In the United States, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is currently in the process of recovering from an ACL tear sustained during the previous season. As of July 29, 2026, he has begun throwing the football again at training camp, although he is not yet fully recovered. Penix has expressed that he feels good and capable of performing all necessary actions on the field, but he is also aware of the need to be cautious to avoid further injury. This is particularly important given that this marks the third ACL tear of his career, having previously experienced similar injuries during his time in college at Indiana and Washington. The Falcons selected Penix with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite concerns regarding his injury history. His performance as a rookie was promising, as he played five games and threw for 775 yards, achieving three touchdowns against three interceptions. In 2025, he was named the starting quarterback, taking over from Kirk Cousins, and he continued to show improvement, completing 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games before his injury. To bolster their quarterback position, the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa, a former starter with the Miami Dolphins, during the offseason. However, Tagovailoa also has an injury history and suffered a back injury just before training camp began. This situation has left Cooper Rush as the only fully healthy quarterback on the roster, highlighting the challenges the Falcons face as they prepare for the upcoming season.